Key Text

Acts 2:1-12

And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God. "

And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

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Present Context

For Reflection

There are many more people who wish that God would move in a powerful way as on the day of Pentecost than there are who wish that God would do it through them. Like Moses, who deemed God could find someone better, Abraham and Sarah who laughed at God's news, and Jonah, who simply didn't like the idea that the people would listen when he spoke, there is a desire to see God at work so long as it is through someone else.

The day of Pentecost depicts a remarkable transformation in a group of people who could not own their relationship with Jesus when challenged only weeks before. Commissioned for a new task, they were new people as they set out in fulfilment of it.

And all because they waited.

The listened to Jesus' last command to wait until the God-provided moment. Wait for the coming of the Spirit.

God continues to lay His Spirit upon people for causes which often lie deep in their hearts, and for which they feel manifestly inadequate. This is the story of God's church at its best, God's people at their best.

Dare you and I pray, "Lord, do something remarkable, and if necessary, use me"?

Prayer:
Let the breath of your Spirit bring new life in me, dissolving fears and inhibitions, and imbuing with both wisdom and patience.

O God of Pentecost, repeat this marvellous work in me, and in all who dare to believe that You care enough to act.

May Your Spirit in our lives bring us to renewed commitment to justice, mercy and compassion, renewing hope, and bringing a humanising touch in this often alienating world.